Blackpink’s Lisa Overcame Korean Language Barrier: “Stuck in Basement” During Trainee Days

Blackpink’s Lisa candidly shared how her early trainee days in South Korea were far from glamorous. Arriving at YG Entertainment aged just 14, she didn’t speak a word of Korean and was subjected to intense 12–15 hour daily training sessions, often in the studio basement, without weekends or family visits.

Speaking on Youth With You 3, she described being literally “stuck in the basement” at age 18, endlessly practicing and unsure of her debut moment. “I was thinking, like, should I go back to school? Should I go back to Thailand?” she admitted. During those early months, Lisa frequently called home in tears, overwhelmed by homesickness.

Despite the language barrier—initially understanding only counts like “1, 2, 3…”—Lisa excelled in classes and dance tests, scoring top marks even before mastering Korean. Fellow Blackpink members recount how she would practice until the early morning hours, often “until 3 or 4 a.m.”

Her turning point? Emotional support from her mother, who urged her to “hang on for another year,” and camaraderie with fellow trainees Jennie, Rosé, and Jisoo—who faced the same struggles.

That union helped her endure until debuting in 2016 and since then thriving as Blackpink’s main dancer and global sensation.